David B. Kolleh
At least 250 security personnel from the Sime Darby Plantation Liberia on Saturday graduated from a security training exercise conducted by the Public Safety Division at the Ministry of Justice.
The training, which lasted for nine weeks, focused on basic security techniques, physical fitness and good academic output.
Requirements for training included, passing a written test, passing an oral interview, completing medical examination, and passing a physical examination.
The 250 graduates according to the Ministry of Justice trainers have all met the criteria to enable them to serve as security for the company.
Col. Jackson F. Morlu, Director for Public Safety at the Ministry of Justice who was the focal person, said, the training represents the first ever Liberian government trained corps of security personnel.
According to him, the Ministry of Justice provided the training curriculum, provided security training experts, and supervised the training to a successful end. SDPL provided logistical and other support for the training exercise.
The security graduates according to the Col. will all be issued licenses by the Liberian government through the Justice Ministry, for the purpose of carrying out arrests, access control, investigation, preservation of crime scenes and reporting writing.
The Director of Public Safety further said that the training exercise had taken into consideration conventional human rights issues, respect for indigenous people rights and preservation of cultural values among others.
Ten senior officers were selected from among the graduates to serve as Chief of Operations for Bomi, Matambo, Lofa, GCM Estates, as well as Land Clearing, plus an additional senior officer who will lead the command structure of the entire security force.
The training of the officers according to the Management of Sime Darby is in fulfillment of its Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in countries in which it operates around the world.
The graduates were beautifully attired in kaki and cream uniform with black beret, bearing the Liberian flag, and Sime Darby flag and insignia.
Meanwhile, the Deputy General Manager of SDPL has cautioned the new graduates to see themselves as the gateway to the image building of the company. They should execute their duties and functions in a distinguished manner.
Mr. Rosli Mohamed Taib advised the officers that the graduation does not mean that they are guaranteed perpetual employment even if they should carry on acts that will run contrary to the core values of the Company, which are integrity, excellence and loyalty.
“Without these values, integrity, excellence and loyalty no one, I mean no one not even me or any other person in this company can survive in Sime Darby.” Mr. Tiab told the graduates.
He told the New Graduates to treat community dwellers with respect and ensure a harmonious working relationship with them at all times. This according the Deputy GM will serve as better security for the company’s investment.
During an interview, one of the graduates Abraham Sombai expressed joy that he had made it through to what he calls a happy day for him and his family.
Sombai said he was grateful to Sime Darby for the training, because it served as an eye-opener for him and many other colleagues. Sombai said he had always thought monitoring was the only component of security training.
“Now I can write a report, preserve a crime scene and do preliminary investigation of any kind of crime before reporting to the appropriate authority, once it falls within my scope,” Sombai further narrated.
